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Improving the livelihood of smallholder farmers
Sahel Stories
The stories of the Sahel were told by those who have long lived in the region, and who relate a lifetime of changes. These oral accounts, used with permission, are from "At the Desert's Edge: Oral Histories from the Sahel" published by SOS Sahel and the Panos Institute.
To order this book with its entire compilation of oral accounts from the Sahel, write to otp@panoslondon.org.uk
To order this book with its entire compilation of oral accounts from the Sahel, write to otp@panoslondon.org.uk
Burkina Faso
Interviews were gathered from settled farmers in Ouahigouya, in the north of the country, and from local farmers in Sapone. Both collections were conducted in Moore.
Read about: Kabré Gomtenga (Female, 70 years), Samné Goama (Female, 40 years), Roamba Tampoko (Female, 40 years), from Saponé
»"We have no methods of contraception other than abstinence. Women try to
wait three years between each child." [PDF 342KB]
Read about: Fatimata Sawadogo (Female, 62 years) from Ouahigouya
»"I prefer a large family. If some children die, there are still some left to help
you when you are old. To help ensure I have enough to survive on - both
millet and money - I have worked hard to bring up my grandchildren. It is a
hard life for an old woman." [PDF 452KB]
Read about: Haoua Ouédraogo (F, 62 years), Lizèta Porgo (F, 62 years) from Ouahigouya
»"As for the division of labor within the family, it is the job of the women to spin
and weave the cotton, fetch the water and grind the millet. The cotton cloth
is then given to the boys in the family. If they are intelligent, they sell it so
they can build their future." [PDF 502KB]
»"We have no methods of contraception other than abstinence. Women try to
wait three years between each child." [PDF 342KB]
Read about: Fatimata Sawadogo (Female, 62 years) from Ouahigouya
»"I prefer a large family. If some children die, there are still some left to help
you when you are old. To help ensure I have enough to survive on - both
millet and money - I have worked hard to bring up my grandchildren. It is a
hard life for an old woman." [PDF 452KB]
Read about: Haoua Ouédraogo (F, 62 years), Lizèta Porgo (F, 62 years) from Ouahigouya
»"As for the division of labor within the family, it is the job of the women to spin
and weave the cotton, fetch the water and grind the millet. The cotton cloth
is then given to the boys in the family. If they are intelligent, they sell it so
they can build their future." [PDF 502KB]
Chad
Interviews in Chad were all conducted in Arabic. Interviews were collected from Mara, a fishing community on the River Chari, north of the capital, N'Djamena, and from Koudere.
Read about: Elisabeth Nadjiyo (Female, 45 years), from Mara
»"Our ground never refuses to accept what we plant. Even if it is tired it still does its best to produce a small amount. " [PDF 236KB]
Read about: Mariam Madra (Female) from Ad Djob, Koudere
»"Men and women used to farm together in the same field. Now men spend so
much time travelling in search of work that its more practical for women to
have their own fields." [PDF 351KB]
Read about: Elisabeth Nadjiyo (Female, 45 years), from Mara
»"Our ground never refuses to accept what we plant. Even if it is tired it still does its best to produce a small amount. " [PDF 236KB]
Read about: Mariam Madra (Female) from Ad Djob, Koudere
»"Men and women used to farm together in the same field. Now men spend so
much time travelling in search of work that its more practical for women to
have their own fields." [PDF 351KB]
Ethiopia
Interviews were collected from farmers, pastoralists and agro-pastoralists. All interviews took place before the political changes of 1991.
Read about: Kebede Bantiwalu (Male, 75 years), from Cherecha, Adis Alem.
»"With the present ban on hunting, we farmers are having to stay around our
farms the whole day long, just to protect our crops - because a herd of pigs
or troop of baboons can completely destroy our fields in a few hours."
[PDF 236KB]
Read about: Yetemegn Damtew (Female, 53 years), from Lower Kutaber Gorge, Wollo.
»"Today, I too can take my grain to a modern mill: the era dominated by the
backbreaking chore of grinding grain has come to an end." [PDF 208KB]
Interviews were conducted with farmers, pastoralists and fishermen based along the Senegal River.
Read about: Wakary Gassama (Male, 70 years) from Bakel
»"Young people used to be industrious. After working in their parent's field, they would go and look for their own work. But today, all the young people have watches, and at midday they return to their houses to sleep." [PDF 265KB]
Read about: Sadio Dramé (Male, 62 years), from Gandé
»"Fishing today and yesterday are two different things: yesterday you went to fish in the lakes, whereas today you have to fish in your pocket. If you have anything in your pocket, then you can get a fish, but if you don't - you won't get any fish." [PDF 635KB]
Read about: Kebede Bantiwalu (Male, 75 years), from Cherecha, Adis Alem.
»"With the present ban on hunting, we farmers are having to stay around our
farms the whole day long, just to protect our crops - because a herd of pigs
or troop of baboons can completely destroy our fields in a few hours."
[PDF 236KB]
Read about: Yetemegn Damtew (Female, 53 years), from Lower Kutaber Gorge, Wollo.
»"Today, I too can take my grain to a modern mill: the era dominated by the
backbreaking chore of grinding grain has come to an end." [PDF 208KB]
Mali
Interviews were conducted with farmers in Bore and near Gao.
Read about: Se'e Dembélè (Male, 70 years), from Tana
»"We have benefited from new equipment. Now we believe we must place our
trust in them because we realize we cannot begin to redress the damage
done without their help" [PDF 389KB]
Read about: Se'e Dembélè (Male, 70 years), from Tana
»"We have benefited from new equipment. Now we believe we must place our
trust in them because we realize we cannot begin to redress the damage
done without their help" [PDF 389KB]
Mauritania
Interviews were conducted in Hasaniya and were gathered from former pastoralists and other migrants from rural areas, living in shanty settlements on the outskirts of the capital city, Nouakchott; and with fishermen in a coastal district north of Nouakchott.
Read about: Treinicha Mint Beidi (Female, 40-45 years), from Nouakchott
»"Everyone, even the blind and handicapped, had a role." [PDF 455KB]
Read about: Fatimetou Mint Mohamed el Mokhatar (Female, 70 years), from Nouakchott
»"It was a race between us and the locusts to reach the vegetation." [PDF 443KB]
Read about: Treinicha Mint Beidi (Female, 40-45 years), from Nouakchott
»"Everyone, even the blind and handicapped, had a role." [PDF 455KB]
Read about: Fatimetou Mint Mohamed el Mokhatar (Female, 70 years), from Nouakchott
»"It was a race between us and the locusts to reach the vegetation." [PDF 443KB]
Senegal
Interviews were conducted with farmers, pastoralists and fishermen based along the Senegal River.
Read about: Wakary Gassama (Male, 70 years) from Bakel
»"Young people used to be industrious. After working in their parent's field, they would go and look for their own work. But today, all the young people have watches, and at midday they return to their houses to sleep." [PDF 265KB]
Read about: Sadio Dramé (Male, 62 years), from Gandé
»"Fishing today and yesterday are two different things: yesterday you went to fish in the lakes, whereas today you have to fish in your pocket. If you have anything in your pocket, then you can get a fish, but if you don't - you won't get any fish." [PDF 635KB]
Sudan
Interviews in Sudan were in three very different communities: in villages to the north of Khartoum, among irrigation farmers, and in Kordofan with pastoralists, agro-pastoralists and farmers - all in Arabic; and with Eritrean and Tigrayan refugees in a UNHCR camp in Tigrigna, Tigre and Amharic.
Read about: Adam el Imam (Male, 98 years) from El Ushara, Shendi
»"The change which has had the greatest impact has been the widespread
introduction of improved education." [PDF 200KB]
Read about: Mohamed el Awad Ali (Male, 70 years) from El Ushara, Shendi.
»"Since the Second World War, I have concentrated on agriculture, which is
better now than in the past, because it yields money." [PDF 195KB]
Read about: Adam el Imam (Male, 98 years) from El Ushara, Shendi
»"The change which has had the greatest impact has been the widespread
introduction of improved education." [PDF 200KB]
Read about: Mohamed el Awad Ali (Male, 70 years) from El Ushara, Shendi.
»"Since the Second World War, I have concentrated on agriculture, which is
better now than in the past, because it yields money." [PDF 195KB]
